Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-21

hid ii in the hold so securely and sarely
that il was never detected by us or the
Callao authorities. / was then asked, as
one who knew the vessel, to undertake a
private examination Of her, with view
of purchasing her from your father with
out awakening his suspicious. / assented.
You have my confession now, Miss Mott
You know my crime. am at your mercy"
Rosey's arm only frightened around his
own. Her eyes sought his "And you
didn't find anythingf' she said.
The question sounded so oddly like
Sleight's, that Renshaw returned little
stifily-
81 didn't look"
"Why?'' asked Rosey simply.
Because stammered Renshaw, with
an uneasy consciousness Of having exagger-
ated his sentiment at didn't seem honor
able; it didn't seem fair to you"
'Oh you silly you might have looked
and told me-
But" said Renshaw, "do you think
that would have been fair to SleightH'
"As fair to him as to us. For, don't
you see, it wouldn't belong to any Of us.
II would belong to the friends or the fam
lily OF the man who lost it,"
''But there were no heirs" replied Rem
shaw That was proved by some i'm
poster who pretended to be his brother,
and libeed the Pontiac at Callao, but the
courts decided he was a lunatic."
"Then it belongs to the poor pirates
who risked their own lives for it, rather
than to Sleight, who did nothing" She
was silent for a moment and then re-
sumed with energy, II believe he was at
the bottom of that attack last night"
~ have thought so, too" said Rem
shaw.
Then l must go back at once" she
continued, impulsively. Father must
not be left alone"
"Nor must you," said Renshaw
quickly "Do lei me return with you, and
share with you and your father the trouble
/ have brought upon you. Do not" he
added in lower tone, deprive me of the
only chance of expiating my offense, of
making myself worthy your forgiveness. :"
II am sure" said Rosey, lowering her
lids and half withdrawing her arm, ~ am
sure | have nothing to forgive. You did
not believe the treasure belonged to US
any more than to anybody else until you
knew me''--
THAT is true said the young man, at
tempting to take her hand.
Il mean" said Rosey, blushing and
showing a distracting row of little teeth in
one of her infrequent laughs, ooh, you
know what mean" She withdrew her
arm gently, and became interested in the
selection of certain wayside bay leaves as
they passed along Gan the same, l don't
believe in this treasure, " she said abruptly,
MS if to change the subject. II don't be-
lieve it ever was hidden inside the
Pontiac
THAT can easily be ascertained now, :"
said Renshaw.
"But it's pity you didn't find it out
while you were about it, said Rosey. st
would have saved so much talk> and
trouble"
81 have told you why didn't search
the ship, responded Renshaw, with some
bitterness, But it seems l could only
avoid being great rascal by becoming a
great fool"
"You never intended to be rascal, "
said Rosey, earnestly, land you couldn't
be fool, except in needing what silly
girl says. | only meant if you had taken
me into your confidence it would have
been better"
might | not say the same to you re-
garding your friend, the old Frenchman?"
returned Renshaw. What if were to
confess to you that lately suspected him
of knowing the secret and of trying to
gain your assistance"
Instead of Indignantly repudating the
suggestion, to the young lfan's great dis
comfture, Rosey only MT her pretty
brows, and remained for some moments
silent. Presently she asked timidly--
"Do you think It wrong to tell another
PERSONS secret for their own good?'
''No," said Renshaw, promptly.
Then I'll tell you Monsieur de Fer
rieres'l But only because l believe from
what you have just said that he will turn
ont to have some right to the treasure. !"
Then with kindling eyes, and n voice
eloquent with sympathy, Rosey told the
story of her accidental discovery of de
Ferrieres miserable existence in the loft
Clothing it with the. unconscious poetry
of her fresh, young imagination, she
lightly passed over his antique gallantry
and grotesque weakness, exalting only
his lonely sufrerings and mysterious
wrongs. Renshaw listened lost between
shame for his late suspicious and admira-
ton for her thoughtful delicacy, until she
began to speak of de Ferrieres' strange
illusions to the foreign papers in his
portmanteau. Il think some were law
papers, and am almost certain saw the
word Callao printed on one of them"
at may be SO, )" said Renshaw, thought
fully. 1.-The old Frenchman has always
passed for harmless, wandering eccen-
trio. hardly think public curiosity has
ever even sought to know his name, much
less his history. But had we not better
first try to find if there is any property
before we examine his claims to its''
GAS you please" said Rosey, with a
slight pout; ''but you will find it much
easier to discover him than his treasure
It's always easier TO find the thing you're
not looking for"
Until You want it," said Renshaw,
with sudden gravity.
How pretty it looks over there" said
Rosey, turning her conscious eyes to the
posite mountain.
every"
They had reached the top of the hill,
and in the near distance the chimney of
Madrono Cottage was even now visible
At the expected sight they unconsciously
stopped - unconsciously disappointed.
Rosey broke the embarrassing silence
"There's another way home, but it's q
roundabout way" she said timidly
LET us take it, :" said Renshaw.
She hesitated 1.-The boat goes at 4,
and we must return tonight"
1.-The more reason why we should make
the most of our time now" said Renshav
with faint smile. Tomorrow all thing
may be changed; tomorrow you may fine
yourself an heiress, Miss Mott To-mor
row. he added, with q slight tremor il
his voice, 81 may have earned your for
giveness, only to say farewell to you for
: ever. Let me keep this sunshine, thi,
picture, this companiopship with Won lops